Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste FACT SHEET

Chemical Agents July 2010

Chemical agents at Deseret quantities of GB. mustard but is a more potent Chemical Depot are contained in GA (tabun) is a non-persistent systemic poison. Lewisite is likely rockets, land mines, mortars, nerve agent that is about half as carcinogenic. The body is unable to artillery projectiles and cartridges, toxic as GB. Relatively small detoxify Lewisite but an antidote bombs, spray tanks, and ton amounts of GA are stored in Utah. has been developed. Relatively containers. Dugway Proving VX is a persistent nerve agent. VX small amounts of Lewisite are Ground also stores chemical is easily absorbed through the skin stored in Utah. munitions. Two types of chemical or ingested as a liquid. VX can be Hazardous Waste agents that are stored in Utah are absorbed through the respiratory Chemical agents and the waste nerve agents and blister agents. tract as a vapor or aerosol. The resulting from treating or testing the Deseret Chemical Depot stockpile agents are regulated as hazardous NERVE AGENTS contains substantial quantities of waste. Nerve agents are organophosphates VX. that cause a blocking of the BLISTER AGENTS Additional Information cholinesterase enzymes. When Blister agents were named for their If you would like more detailed acetyl cholinesterase is blocked, effect on skin and other tissues. information or have questions acetylcholine builds-up within the The blister agents are vesicants that please contact: nervous system. This build-up may are severe irritants to tissue and can DEQ / DSHW cause an over-stimulation of be deadly at high concentrations. muscles and organs resulting in Mustard acts by poisoning cells. P.O. Box 144880 symptoms such as twitching or Both liquid and vapor can cause Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880 difficulty in breathing. Mild intense inflammation and severe Telephone: 801-536-0200. exposures may result in pinpoint blistering. Internally, the www.deq.utah.gov/eqshw pupils and runny nose. Higher bloodforming doses can be fatal. Antidotes are tissues, such as bone available for nerve agents. marrow, are particularly sensitive to The military classifies nerve agents mustard. No antidote is available. as non-persistent or persistent. The International Agency for Non-persistent nerve agents are Research on Cancer considers typically liquids that evaporate mustard a known human about as easily as water. If the carcinogen. nerve agent has evaporated, the Sulfur mustard is designated as H, vapor can be inhaled. Persistent HD and HT. The main difference nerve agents are typically liquids between the different types of that evaporate about as easily as mustard is the freezing point. The motor oil. different sulfur mustard GB (Sarin) is a non-persistent formulations change from a liquid nerve agent that may be to a solid at temperatures ranging absorbed as a vapor through the from 32° to 58° F. Mustard will respiratory tract, skin, eyes, or evaporate very slowly. The Deseret by Chemical Depot stockpile contains ingestion. The Deseret Chemical substantial quantities of mustard. Depot stockpile contains substantial Lewisite (L) is a blister agent that produces effects similar to the